Science Briefing

Rocket that went astray is destroyed

NASA destroyed an unmanned experimental rocket carrying a pair of research satellites Friday when it veered off course shortly after an early-morning liftoff from Wallops Flight Facility on the Virginia coast.

There were no injuries or confirmed reports of property damage, according to NASA, but the agency warned that debris from the explosion could be hazardous. NASA thinks most of the wreckage fell into the Atlantic Ocean.

Officials said the rocket -- a prototype made by Alliant Techsystems Inc. -- was destroyed by remote control 27 seconds into the predawn flight. Officials said they do not know why it went off course.